Regus Connect: Connecting businesses, freelancers and interns....an article for them about YEUK!

Youth Employment UK is a Campaigning & Membership organisation that was founded in 2012 by Laura-Jane Rawlings to tackle youth unemployment through coordination. There are a lot of brilliant opportunities available for young people that don’t reach the young people. In addition, people don’t share good practice. When this happens, an opportunity closes, but the need is still there. This mistake perpetuates at the detriment of young people. YEUK joins the dots!

What is unique about YEUK is the fact that I see it as a ‘pyramid’. It has businesses, supporters and youth ambassadors that all mentor and support each other. I decided to be a youth ambassador as I am a young person who has first-hand experience of the catch-22 situation. I am enthusiastic, have qualifications coming out of my ears but I am lacking in the ‘experience’ that employer are looking for. The role of the YEUK youth ambassador, is indicative to a young person’s personal career goals; therefore, if a YEUK youth ambassador has the skill set and would like to own their own business they are aligned according. I have a strong interest in careers and recruitment and this is why I work on the Chance to Shine project. I also help with careers advice with the other YEUK youth ambassadors; create info- graphic training materials and CV direction.

Currently, we are running a campaign called #YouthFriendlyMP. This is where ambassadors are being ‘called to action’ to try and get their local MP to become youth friendly. This would involve MPs signing The Youth Charter (http://www.yeuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Positive-Youth-Charter.pdf); whereby, they are agreeing to commit to two ‘youth friendly activities’. This could be running CV workshops or networking events plus many more! From this they would receive a Youth Friendly Badge. Everyone would know that they are committed to resolving youth unemployment issues in their area. It is about creating a youth friendly network, free of cost for government. I have met with my local MP, Robin Walker, and it was interesting finding out about the projects he is already undertaking to support young people in the area. As a young person, I did not know about these. Being a supporter YEUK is a good way to promote these activities. All MPs will be invited to attend an event on the 9^th July to find out more about the project and the benefits for young people in their area.

Young people can get in touch and ask YEUK anything and we’ll help in whatever way possible. They can pick up the phone and call the office, through the email addresses on site and also through the NEW forum onsite. Tweet us, Facebook us too! Plus each month in the e-mag we highlight (in orange) the events where young people can come to for free and meet the team/the CEO or both. We are always looking for ambassadors!

Find out more about Regus Connect here: http://www.regusconnect.com/